My All Star Votes

I just got done filling out my All Star ballot as I do every year. There are some very interesting ways to go this season. Now, I like to wait until a week or so before the game to fill out my ballot. I actually do two ballots. On the first one I vote for the players that I feel are the most deserving to start in the game. I use the second ballot to vote for my favorite players. It just so happens that this season the second ballot is the Cubs' starting lineup.

I know there is a good portion of baseball fans that could do with out the All Star game but I always tune in and watch the majority of the game. I just love seeing the matchups of the best of the best. There is also an extra added bonus of interest for me this year because when the NL wins the game it will give the Cubs home field advantage in the Series, which will be sweet.

In all seriousness, I really do like the National League this year. The starting lineup is young but it's loaded. I would take the NL lineup that I selected over my AL selections. Of course the pitchers haven't been announced and my picks aren't necessarily voted in starters but I still believe the NL wins this year. Pitching will be stacked on both sides as well and I think the edge in pitching staffs is a coin flip.

Now any one of these picks can be argued over in a number of ways but these are my opinions on who should start and why. In fact I encourage you to argue with me. Alright, I'll quit beating around the bush, here are my picks:

American League

C- A.J. Pierzynski- His numbers are about the same as Mauer's except for the BA. I'm taking A.J. over him for how he's handled the best pitching staff in baseball to this point.

1B- Kevin Youkilis- It's pretty close between Youk and Morneau but I give the edge to Youkilis. I like the way he has stepped up for the Red Sox in Big Papi's absence.

2B- Ian Kinsler- I was an Ian Kinsler skeptic before the season but I'm turning into a believer. He gets the slight nod over Dustin Pedroia

SS- Michael Young- Kind of slim pickings here. Jeter just doesn't put up the numbers anymore to warrant a starting position on this team and don't give me that crap about what he does for his team, I don't want to hear it.

3B- Alex Rodriguez- Pretty obvious here even with the DL stint. Joe Crede and Mike Lowell deserve a place on the team as well.

OF-Josh Hamilton- You would have to be a complete jackass not to vote for him or you'd have to be boys with his old crack dealer because you are obviously smoking rocks.

OF- Grady Sizemore- Not a great batting average but 19 HR, 19 SB, and plays a phenomenal center field.

OF- Carlos Quentin (write-in)- Tied for 1st in the AL with 19 HR and 3rd in the league in RBI. The White Sox weren't sure if he'd start in left field for them and now he deserves to be starting in the All Star game.

DH- Hideki Matsui- He's having a great year and with Ortiz on the shelf for the foreseeable future, I'm giving the edge to Matsui.

National League

C- Geovany Soto- He's going to be the first rookie catcher in NL history to ever start in the All Star game and he deserves it. Numbers are great and the fact that he's a rookie makes it all the more impressive.

1B- Lance Berkman- Having a career year and could end up being the most valuable fantasy player at season's end. He gets the nod over Derrek Lee and Albert Pujols but both players should be on the team.

2B- Chase Utley- It's a coin flip between him and Uggla. I give Utley the edge in speed and defense.

SS- Hanley Ramirez- Living up to the hype and is the best SS in baseball at this point. We'll be seeing him start in a lot of All Star games in the years to come.

3B- Chipper Jones- The fact that he's still right around .400 up to this date is a great story to follow. Aramis Ramirez and David Wright should both be on the team as well.

OF- Ryan Braun- Here's another name you'll be seeing in All Star games for years to come. A lot of people predicted a less impressive season than his rookie season but he's showing no signs of a slump whatsoever.

OF- Carlos Lee- Monster numbers season after season and one of the more intimidating hitters in the league.

OF- Jason Bay- Having a great bounce back season and will most likely be the Pirates' lone representative at the game. Gets the edge over Dunn, Soriano, Hart, and McLouth.

With players like Wright, Reyes, H. Ramirez, Pujols, Utley, Uggla, and Braun the NL is going to have an offensive edge of the AL in the years to come barring 5 of these guys get traded to the AL. I think the days of the AL dominating this game are over starting this year. I wouldn't be surprised at all if the NL went on a nice streak of there own over the next handful of years.